Ribbon dispenser

ABSTRACT

Disclosed herein is a device for containing a center-pull roll that has a central core and an elongated material, such as ribbon, wound about the central core. The device has a peripheral wall with a first end and a second end opposite the first end, as well as a first end wall positioned proximal the first end and having a dispensing outlet formed substantially centrally therein. The device also includes a second end wall positioned proximal the second end. The central core is axially aligned with the dispensing outlet, such that the central core may be removed through the dispensing outlet and the elongated material may be dispensed through the dispensing outlet. The peripheral wall can have a portal formed therein for passage of a finger at least partially therethrough to touch the elongated material.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a device for packaging and dispensingelongated material, such as ribbon, which is wound into a center-pullroll.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

It is known in the art to provide means for dispensing elongatedmaterial, such as yarn, ribbon and the like. U.S. Pat. No. 3,310,167 toKnox (the “Knox '167 Patent”), for example, discloses a ribbon dispenserincluding a bottom wall, a top wall having a hole formed therein, anouter cylindrical wall, and a plurality of partitions disposed withinthe outer cylindrical wall to form a plurality of compartments. Many ofthe partitions have an aperture formed therethrough in alignment withthe hole, and the ribbon dispenser includes ribbon positioned within thecompartments to be dispensed through the hole and correspondingaperture. As another example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,763,785 to Bradley et al.(the “Bradley '785 Patent”) discloses a center-pull structure having acenter core, release paper wrapped about the center core, and a fibrousmaterial wound about the release paper.

What is needed in the art, however, is a device for packaging,dispensing, and displaying elongated material from a center-pull roll.What is also needed in the art, is a device for packaging, dispensing,and displaying elongated material in such a manner as to facilitatetactile evaluation of the material prior to purchase thereof.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Preferred embodiments of the present invention overcome thedisadvantages and shortcomings of the prior art by providing a devicefor containing a center-pull roll that has an elongated material and fordispensing the elongated material. In accordance with an exemplaryembodiment of the present invention, the device includes a peripheralwall, a first end wall, and a second end. The peripheral wall includes aportal formed therein for passage of a finger at least partiallytherethrough. The first end wall has a dispensing outlet formedsubstantially centrally therein. The device includes closing means, suchas a sticker positioned on the first wall, for closing the dispensingoutlet.

In accordance with the exemplary embodiment of the present invention,the device is used in combination with a center-pull roll having acentral core and an elongated material, such as ribbon, woundthereabout. The center-pull roll is in axial alignment with thedispensing outlet, such that the central core can be removed from thedispensing outlet after the closing means have been removed. The ribboncan then be dispensed through the dispensing outlet.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a more complete understanding of the present invention, reference ismade to the following detailed description of an exemplary embodiment ofthe present invention considered in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a ribbon dispenser constructed inaccordance with one exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a conventional center-pull roll ofribbon;

FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the ribbon dispenser of FIG. 1 incombination with the center-pull roll of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the ribbon dispenser of FIG. 1 incombination with the center-pull roll of FIG. 2, the combination beingshown prior to a ribbon-dispensing operation by a user whose hand isvisible in FIG. 4;

FIG. 5 is a top plan view of the ribbon dispenser of FIG. 1 incombination with the center-pull roll of FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is an elevational view of the ribbon dispenser of FIG. 1 incombination with the center-pull roll of FIG. 2;

FIG. 7 is a bottom plan view of the ribbon dispenser of FIG. 1 incombination with the center-pull roll of FIG. 2;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the ribbon dispenser of FIG. 1 incombination with the center-pull roll of FIG. 2, the combination beingshown as a user, whose hand is visible in FIG. 8, removes a central coreof the roll from the dispenser; and

FIG. 9 is a perspective view similar to that of FIG. 8, except that thecentral core has been removed from the dispenser and detached from theroll.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIGS. 1-7, a ribbon dispenser 10 is shown in combinationwith a center-pull roll 12, which includes a central core 14 and anelongated material, such as a ribbon 16, wound thereabout in aconventional manner. The ribbon dispenser 10 includes a peripheral wall18, a lid 20, and a base 22, each of which shall be discussed below infurther detail.

Referring to FIGS. 1, 3, 4, and 6, the peripheral wall 18 issubstantially cylindrical and extends about a central axis Ac(designated in FIG. 3). The peripheral wall 18 is preferably formed froman acetate that is transparent, it being understood that the peripheralwall 18 can be formed from any transparent, translucent, and/or opaquematerial. An opening, referenced herein as a finger portal 24, is formedin the peripheral wall 18 and sized and shaped to allow passage of afinger at least partially therethrough. The peripheral wall 18 forms achamber 26 that is sized and dimensioned to receive and contain thecenter-pull roll 12 such that a user of the ribbon dispenser 10 may viewthe ribbon 16 through the transparent peripheral wall 18 and touch theribbon 16 through the finger portal 24 for tactile evaluation thereof(e.g., sensing the texture of the ribbon 16).

Referring to FIGS. 1, 3, 4, 6, and 7, the base 22 of the ribbondispenser 10 includes a round end wall 28 and a circular flange 30.Although the base 22 is shown to be formed from an acetate that isopaque, the base 22 can be formed from any transparent, translucent,and/or opaque material. The end wall 28 is substantially round, and thecenter thereof is in substantial alignment with the central axis A_(C)(designated in FIG. 3). The flange 30, which is preferably formedmonolithically with the end wall 28, extends perpendicularly from theplane of the end wall 28, such that the flange 30 extends annularlyabout the central axis A_(C). The radius of the flange 30, as measuredfrom an inside surface thereof to the central axis A_(C), is slightlylarger than the radius of the peripheral wall 18, as measured from theoutside surface thereof to the central axis A_(C), whereby the base 22is adapted to removably receive the peripheral wall 18 when they arearranged concentrically about the central axis A_(C). The flange 30forms a friction fit with the peripheral wall 18. Although not required,an adhesive (not shown) can be used to attach the flange 30 to theperipheral wall 18. It is also contemplated that the end wall 28 and/orthe flange 30 could be attached to the peripheral wall 18 by anysuitable means appreciated by one skilled in the art.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 3-6, the lid 20, which is round, includes anend wall 32 and a circular flange 34. Although the lid 20 is shown to beformed from an acetate that is opaque, it could be formed from anytransparent, translucent, and/or opaque material. The end wall 32 issubstantially round, and the center thereof is in substantial alignmentwith the central axis A_(C) (designated in FIG. 3). The flange 34, whichis preferably formed monolithically with the end wall 32, extendsperpendicularly from the plane of the end wall 32, such that the flange34 extends annularly about the central axis A_(C). The radius of theflange 34, as measured from an inside surface thereof to the centralaxis A_(C), is slightly larger than the radius of the peripheral wall18, as measured from the outside surface thereof to the central axisA_(C), whereby the lid 20 is adapted to removably receive the peripheralwall 18 when they are arranged concentrically about the central axisA_(C). The flange 34 forms a friction fit with the peripheral wall 18.Although not required, an adhesive (not shown) can be used to attach theflange 34 to the peripheral wall 18. It is also contemplated that theend wall 32 and/or the flange 34 could be attached to the peripheralwall 18 by any suitable means appreciated by one skilled in the art.

Continuing with reference to FIGS. 1 and 3-6, the end wall 32 has anoutlet, referenced herein as a dispensing outlet 36, formed centrallytherein about the central axis A_(C) (designated in FIG. 3). The outlet36, which extends through the end wall 32 to the chamber 26, issubstantially cylindrical and has a diameter, referenced herein asdiameter D_(DO) (designated in FIG. 3), that is selected for a purposeto be described hereinafter. The ribbon dispenser 10 further includesclosing means, such as an adhesive sticker 38 or the like, that canadhere to a surface of the end wall 32 opposite the chamber 26 so as toremovably close off the outlet 36.

Referring to FIGS. 2-6, the roll 12 is positioned within the chamber 26of the dispenser 10 and, as indicated above, includes the central core14 and the ribbon 16, which is wound about the core 14. The ribbon 16,which could be replaced by any other suitable elongated material (e.g.,cord, twine, rope, tape, etc.), is visually perceptible through thetransparent peripheral wall 18, while being accessible for touching by afinger of a user that is inserted through the portal 24. The ribbon 16has a first end, referenced herein as an interior end 40, that is atleast temporarily attached to the central core 14 by an adhesive orother suitable means appreciated by one skilled in the art. The ribbon16 is wound about the central core 14 and terminates at an end oppositethe interior end 40, which is referenced herein as an exterior end 42.

Referring to FIG. 3, the central core 14 is preferably a hollow tubeformed from cardboard and arranged in substantial alignment with thecentral axis A_(C) and the dispensing outlet 36, whereby the core 14 canbe removed from the chamber 26 through the outlet 36. In this regard,the central core 14 preferably has a diameter, referenced herein asdiameter D_(CC), that is less than the diameter D_(DO) of the dispensingoutlet 36, so as to permit passage of the central core 14 therethrough.

Referring to FIGS. 4 and 8-9, an exemplary method of using the ribbondispenser 10 in combination with the center-pull roll 12 shall now bediscussed. As shown in FIG. 4, the roll 12 is positioned within thechamber 26 of the dispenser 10 for display at a retail store. Aconsumer, for example, can evaluate the tactile qualities of the ribbon16 by inserting his or her finger through the portal 24 to touch theribbon 16. During transportation of the ribbon dispenser 10 and thecenter-pull roll 12 positioned therein, the sticker 38 adheres to thelid 20 of the ribbon dispenser 10, thereby preventing the central core14 of the center-pull roll 12 from inadvertently exiting the ribbondispenser 10 through the dispensing outlet 36 thereof.

As shown in FIGS. 8-9, after having removed the sticker 38, the consumerpulls the central core 14 through the dispensing outlet 36 with theinterior end 40 of the ribbon 16. The user then pulls the interior end40 of the ribbon 16 from the ribbon dispenser 10 to dispense a desiredlength of the ribbon 16 from the ribbon dispenser 10 and detaches thedesired length of the ribbon 16 from the remaining length of the ribbon16.

It will be understood that the embodiment of the present inventiondescribed herein is merely exemplary and that a person skilled in theart may make many variations and modifications without departing fromthe spirit and the scope of the present invention. For example, thedispenser 10 can be used to package, display, and/or dispense itemsother than the ribbon 16, such as textiles, textured gift wrap, etc. Inembodiments of the present invention having the finger portal 24, suchitems can be positioned within the chamber 26, whereby a user of thedispenser 10 can evaluate the tactile qualities of the items byinserting a finger through the portal 24 and touching the items. Allsuch variations and modifications, including those discussed above, areintended to be included within the scope of the present invention asdefined in the appended claims.

1. A dispenser for elongated material, comprising a peripheral wallhaving a portal formed therein for passage of a finger at leastpartially therethrough; a first end wall positioned proximal a first endof said peripheral wall and having a dispensing outlet formedsubstantially centrally therein; and a second end wall positionedproximal a second end of said peripheral wall opposite the first end. 2.The device of claim 1, wherein said peripheral wall, said first endwall, and said second end wall define a chamber therebetween and saiddispensing outlet extends through said first end wall to said chamber.3. The device of claim 2, including closing means for closing saiddispensing outlet.
 4. The device of claim 3, wherein said closing meansincludes an adhesive layer removably attached to said first end wall tocover said dispensing outlet.
 5. The device of claim 1, wherein saidperipheral wall is substantially cylindrical.
 6. The device of claim 1,wherein said dispenser is at least partially defined about a centralaxis thereof.
 7. The device of claim 6, wherein said peripheral wallextends about said central axis.
 8. The device of claim 6, wherein saiddispensing outlet is substantially aligned with said central axis.
 9. Incombination, a center-pull roll having a central core and an elongatedmaterial wound thereabout, and a device for dispensing said elongatedmaterial, said device comprising a peripheral wall, a first end wallpositioned proximal a first end of said peripheral wall and having adispensing outlet formed substantially centrally therein, and a secondend wall positioned proximal a second end of said peripheral wallopposite said first end wall.
 10. The combination of claim 9, whereinsaid peripheral wall extends about a central axis.
 11. The combinationof claim 10, wherein said dispensing outlet is substantially alignedwith said central axis.
 12. The combination of claim 11, wherein saidcentral core is substantially aligned with said central axis.
 13. Thecombination of claim 9, wherein said peripheral wall, said first endwall, and said second end wall define a chamber therebetween and saiddispensing outlet extends through said first end wall to said chamber.14. The combination of claim 13, wherein said center-pull roll ispositioned within said chamber.
 15. The combination of claim 14, whereinsaid central core and said dispensing outlet are sized and shaped suchthat said central core may be removed from said chamber through saiddispensing outlet.
 16. The combination of claim 9, including closingmeans for closing said dispensing outlet.
 17. The combination of claim16, wherein said closing means includes an adhesive layer removablyattached to said first end wall to cover said dispensing outlet.
 18. Thecombination of claim 9, wherein said elongated material is ribbon. 19.The combination of claim 9, wherein said peripheral wall has a portalformed therein for passage of a finger at least partially therethroughto touch said elongated material.
 20. The combination of claim 9,wherein said peripheral wall is substantially cylindrical.